Why should we come to church on Christmas Eve? I mean, we have family in town, last minute preparations are being executed, and we’re honestly at our wits’ end with anything ‘extra’. It’s so late. It’s so much easier to stay home and be with family. We can worship on Sunday…
During the season in which Jesus was born, there was a census occurring. So many people congregated in such a small area that all the inns and places to stay were at capacity. People were moving about, frantically trying to gather their families together in order to be present for the reason they all gathered. Moms were at their wits’ end. Dads were, too. The kids didn’t want to make the trip, at all. I mean, their friends were in town. Hustle and bustle. People were moving.
Then a family arrives, late in the day, seeking somewhere to stay. All the places are full, as everyone is too busy to accommodate them. They’re luckily moved to a spot in the back of the inn, a place with straw and some semblance of warmth. Thankfully, someone attended them and allowed the least possible attention. A very pregnant young female, an exhausted man, and a number of family members who had all been traveling for months. And God’s miracle was about to occur.
If the family hadn’t been expecting that miracle, I’m sure they’d have done like everyone else—allowed the season to overtake them. They’d have let the business and busy-ness overrun their days, instead of taking time to look around them for the possible beauty taking place. This is where the first question posed above enters into the fray:
Why should I go to church on Christmas Eve?
Because no one was there the first time. No one witnessed or celebrated, no one took a moment of silence. No one knew it was happening. But we do, now. Why come? Because we can celebrate the memorial with the holy family. We can honor the birth of the Incarnate Christ by virtue of dropping everything else and simply choosing to travel to the place where we know the celebration will occur. If you knew, two thousand years ago, that Christ was being born and that you could have a front-row seat, would you go?
I’d travel thousands of miles just to stand at the back.
That’s why traveling ten or fifteen, now, is really an easy choice.
I hope to see you on that silent night.
Faithfully,
Fr. Sean+
